New Products

Monitor Audio Airstream A100 DAC/Amplifier
The Airstream A100 gets our vote for Most Stylish Audio Component. When we first saw the little amp at CEDIA Expo, we wondered if the Brits had gone mad. Why were they showcasing a router? The A100 is more than just a pretty face with its 2x50-watt Class AB amplifier, high-resolution digital-to-analog converter, DLNA and AirPlay compatibility, and Wi-Fi connectivity with apps for Spotify and Last.FM. Connections include an optical digital input, stereo analog inputs and preouts, and a subwoofer output. It even has an Airstream Direct mode for “router-free music.”
Up or Down: Whether it’s standing tall or lying on its side, the A100 can be used on its own or as part of a TV-based setup. Available in black or white. Price: $500

Monitor Audio • (905) 428-2800 • monitoraudiousa.com

Triad Inroom Bronze LR-H Dolby Atmos Speaker
Speakers have been predictably boring for decades: a couple drivers in a rectangular box with a black or woodgrain finish. The advent of Dolby Atmos, with its ability to place sounds above the listening space, has given rise to “Atmos-enabled” speakers for those who want immersive surround sound without having to cut holes in the ceiling. One of the first such models is Triad’s 19.5-inch-tall LR-H, which uses four upward-firing 2-inch full-range drivers to bounce sound off the ceiling while a fabric-dome tweeter and two 5.5-inch woofers deliver main-channel sound.
Pick a Color: The standard finish is black, white, or one of 17 wood veneers, including cherry, walnut, zebra, mahogany, teak, rosewood, and six shades of oak. Or Triad will match your favorite color. Price: $1,000 each.

Triad • (800) 666-6316 • triadspeakers.com

Combine 9 Woodrow AV Credenza
The vintage industrial look is not for everyone, but those who dig rough-hewn furniture will appreciate the one-of-a-kind Woodrow media console, featuring steel mesh doors, a cold rolled steel frame with rivets, and a selection of vintage woods.
True Vintage: The Woodrow is built to order using reclaimed wood, including teak from the deck of the U.S.S. California, a battleship sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor (while supplies last). A variety of finishes and styles are available, and consoles can be ordered with or without shelving, partitions, and casters. A 90 x 20 x 20-inch version of the cabinet (as shown) with a shelf, two storage compartments, and a back panel with a 2-inch gap to accommodate wiring sells for $2,350.

Combine 9 • (562) 619-4748 • combine9.com

Hall Research 4K Javelin Optical HDMI Extension Cable
The brainiacs at Hall Research have figured out how to significantly extend the range of HDMI cables using optoelectronics. Proprietary circuitry in the 4K Javelin cable converts video signals into light pulses so they can be transmitted up to 200 feet with “zero loss” and without an external power supply (power is drawn from the 5-volt signal pin of the source HDMI output).
Twist and Shout: In addition to being thin and lightweight, the cable is flexible with a bend radius of 0.2 inches and supports “any resolution or color depth, including non-standard video formats” up to a maximum data rate of 10.2 Gbps (3.4 Gpbs per channel). Cables are available in 50-, 75-, 100-, 150-, and 200-foot lengths at prices ranging from $295 to $650.

Hall Research • (800) 959-6439 • hallresearch.com

Yamaha YAS-203 Soundbar System
A decade before the “soundbar” even existed, Yamaha was blowing minds with the all-in-one YSP-1 Digital Sound Projector, which used 42 drivers and digital signal processing to create a convincing surround sound experience by projecting focused beams of sound around the room. Today the company sells more than a dozen soundbars, including the YAS-203, featuring Dolby Digital and DTS Digital Surround processing, Bluetooth streaming with aptX coding for CD-quality, Android/iOS app control, and a compact wireless subwoofer.
Two’ll Get You Seven: Air Surround Xtreme techn- ology produces a virtual 7.1-channel soundfield from a slim 35 x 3 x 5-inch enclosure. Unlike conventional multi-driver soundbars, the YAS-203 creates its surround magic using signal processing and only two full-range drivers. Price: $400

Yamaha • (714) 522-9105 • usa.yamaha.com